Luminous gas-tube unit



Dec- 31.1940 H. w. BARTHELs LUMINOUS GAS-TUB UNIT y Filed March l5, 1940 CIEC.:

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Patented Dec. 3l, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y LUMiNoUs Gas-TUBE UNIT Herbert w. Barmen, Los Angeles, Calif. Application March 15, 1940, Serial No. 324,141

s claims. (c1. 17e-sz) i This invention relates to tubes of the character in whicha gas contained ina length of same is made luminous by a high potential electric current and it relates more especially to a mount for such tubes and a companion receptacle therefor for receiving said mount and engaging current-z carrying parts.

'I'he essential object of this invention is to provide a composite and simple device which is compact, is easily and conveniently handled, is readily interchangeable with devices of differing designs and which meets all requirements of inspection and underwriting. i i

At present, the electrodes in luminous displays of `this type are separately contained, that is, one pole is located in one receptacle and the other pole in another receptacle and the reason for this provision is to keep safely apart the current-carrying elements of opposite polarity. This neces-` sity involves time expenditure and considerable cost in labor and material, in addition to requiring special equipment and the occupancy of` space that might otherwise be used. A further object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a device, in `association with a receptacle containing current-carrying parts or means, a unit of relatively small dimensions which safely combines the gasfilled tube and the electrodes or terminals thereof as an integral part thereof, and which positively insures against `dielectric rupture; to provide a strong unit or holder that may beattached by anyone to the receptacle and that will provide a cheap and attractive display, sign, or source of illumination, thus, because of the reduced expense in the manner of assembling the co-operating parts, making possible the more extensive use of luminous gas tubes of this character.

These and other objects are attained by the device illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawing and described in the subjoined specification.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

The invention comprises a two-part unit of two bodies A and B. Into the body A.' which is preferably a cylindrical base open at one end and closed at the other, are set or brought the ends I and I of a length of gas-filled tubing and the terminals or electrodes thereof, shown at 8 and l, these terminals being connected to contact members l and l exposed at the end of said base or body A. vThe contact members 5 and 6 are dielectrically separated by a gap, space or saddle 1 in the closed end of said base or body and provided by inwardly directed spaced walls which converge and are conjoined approximately cen' 5 trally of said base or body A, said walls forming or providing interiorly of said base or body A a `dielectric medium orl barrier 8 between theterminals or electrodes 3 and I. Said barrier 8 divides the end of saiabody substantially into 10 two chambers, in each of which, as shown, is located one of the electrodes. The ends I and 2 of the tubing and the electrodes 3 and 4 thereof are integrally united in separated relation with the base A, by embedment in non-absorptive insulating material, which in practice of assembling the` parts is introduced into the base A in plastic form and then allowed to harden. The gas-filled tube and its terminals then become` substantially a part of the base A. It may be` of any design, may be interchanged with others, may be conveniently transported and may be readily installed and attached by anyone in or to the companion part B which is a receptacle, socket or other chambered body arranged to receive the base A in manner and for the purpose presently described. The socket B is provided with interior spring contacts 9 and I0 which are connected with. or to exterior binding posts l I and I2 on said socket for high voltage wires of oppo- 30 site polarity from a transformer, not shown, and contained in the case or housing C. The spring contacts 9 and I0 are spaced by a dielectric medium or barrier I3 which projects within said socket B approximately centrally thereof and isolates said contacts. The barrier or wall I3 is arranged to fit into the gap or space 1 in the base A to facilitate seating of said base within the socket B and insure engagement of the respective contacts of said bodies, and also to prevent rotational movement of the base A. A dielectric barrier also projects outwardly beyond said socket B and between the binding posts II andv I2, this barrier and the others referred to heretofore being very essential in devices of this type where areas and confines are reduced to the smallest limits to provide the dielectric strength needed to resist rupture by high voltage.

By means of a member I5 rotatable relatively to said base A and socket-B and arranged to engage the base A, said base is moved or operated to move within the socket B to establish contact between the current-carrying parts of the two parts A and B. Preferably the member comprises a threaded ring, as shown, which is arranged to engage the threaded portion Il' of the base A. 'I'he ring Il is preferably 4swiveled on the case or housing C containing the entire unit,

.or on the socket B, and obviously, the manual vroperation of said member I5 rotatively causes y-tlrebaseA to move in a rectilinear direction withinor without said socket B and securely locks or unlocks them.

f What I claim, is:

1. Azdevice of the character disclosed comprising asocket provided with exterior terminals for high. voltage wires of opposite polarity and with interior contacts. said socket being provided with a dielectric barrier for spacing said terminals and contacts, a base providing an exterior and interior dielectric barrier, a body of insulating material lling said base and embedding therein the ends of a'length of tubing and the terminals thereof, said terminals being disposed on opposite sides of said interior barrier and connected to contacts outside said base. and means to move the base within the socket to cause the engagement of the contacts in the socket and on the base and lock the base within the socket.

2. A device of the character disclosed comprisi'ng a socket provided with interior and exterior dielectric barriers in one end thereof, an exterior terminal post for high voltage wires of opposite polarity on each side of lsaid barrier, an interior contact on each side f saidinterior barrier and connected respectively with said terminal posts, a

base arranged to fit into said socket and having embedded therein both ends of a length of tubing and the electrodes thereof, contacts'exteriorly of said base, said contacts being connected with said tubing terminals, said base having an inwardly said and having current-carrying parts. said y socket and base having interfitting dielectric barriers separating said electrodes, and current-carryins parts. i

`4. A device of the character disclosed comprising a base, a length of gas-filled tubing, the ends of said tubing being provided with electrodes and said ends and electrodes being incorporated in said base. contacts exterior of said base and connected to said electrodes, and a socket to contain said base and having current-carrying parts, said socket and base having interiitting dielectric barriers separating said electrodes and current-carrying parts. and rotatable means to join and lock together said base and socket.

5. A device of the character disclosed comprising a base having in the bottom thereof a dielectric barrier, said base having incorporated therewith the ends of a gas-filled tube and the electrodes thereof, said electrodes being disposed on opposite sides of said barrier and connected to contacts outside said base, a socket for` said base having current-carrying contacts, andmeans to force and hold said cell in said socket and in en- 4said barrier and connected to contacts outside said base, a socket for said cell having currentcarrying contacts and means to force and hold said base in said socket and in engagement with the respective contacts thereof.

7. A device of the character disclosed comprising a base divided at the bottom thereof into two chambers, a length of gas-filledtubing the ends whereof are incorporated in said base, electrodes carried in said ends and respectively disposed in said chambers.' connectedl to contacts outside said base, a socket for said base, said receptacle havingcurrent-carrying contacts, and means r'otatably operable to combine said base with said socket.

8. A' device of the character disclosed comprising a base divided at one end thereof into two spaced chambers. a length of gas-filled tubing, the 

